Emanuel: It's on

Presumptive front-runner makes official entry into race for mayor

November 13, 2010|By John Chase and Kristen Mack, Tribune reporters

As Rahm Emanuel made his entry into Chicago's mayoral race official Saturday, a major theme of his campaign echoed off the school gymnasium walls: He is the tenacious leader Chicago needs during tough times.

The former North Side congressman and White House chief of staff laid out a broad agenda, declaring he'd work to help generate jobs, improve education and decrease crime at a juncture in the city's history when all three need to be addressed.

"The choices we make in the next few years will define Chicago for future generations. They will determine whether we remain a world-class city — or fall back," he told 250 supporters jammed in the gym at Coonley Elementary School. "The question in this election is who has the experience, imagination and strength to see a better future for Chicago? And who has the determination to see that vision through the end?"

While providing few specifics in an 18-minute speech, Emanuel did say increasing taxes to address the city's continued budget woes isn't on the table. Still, Emanuel hinted at service cuts by promising that "necessary changes" and "tough choices" will be made and residents will "share in the sacrifices."

After Mayor Richard Daley announced in September he wasn't running for re-election, Emanuel moved quickly to run for the job and his announcement Saturday wasn't a surprise.

Emanuel enters the contest with more than $1 million in his campaign account, high name recognition and a reputation as a relentless campaigner.

Some opponents have hinted they may try to get Emanuel's name off the ballot because mayoral candidates are required to have lived in Chicago for a year before the Feb. 22 election. Emanuel still owns a home in the Ravenswood neighborhood but hasn't lived there since leaving to work for Obama, though he has used that address to vote. Emanuel is not living in the home because his renter, who has a lease through mid-2011, has refused to move out.

Emanuel carefully tried to head off questions about his residency and roots here while at the same time subtly implying he had Obama's backing to be mayor of the town from which the two men hail. Emanuel detailed his family's history, which goes back generations in Chicago and includes a father who was a doctor in Albany Park and an uncle who was a Chicago police sergeant.

On Sunday, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and state Sen. James Meeks are scheduled to kick off their mayoral campaigns.